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Thursday, March 22, 2012

New Orleans, March 22, 2012- The Louisiana Wing, Civil Air Patrol, (CAP) is holding its Annual Conference at the Best Western Inn & Suites in Alexandria, La. Friday through Sunday March 23-25, 2012. The Awards Banquet recognizes the successes of dedicated, professional and selfless work performed by the volunteer organization’s members, seniors and cadets, over the course of the previous year, 2011. The Louisiana Wing (1 of 52) is comprised of 170 cadets and 394 senior members who along with 61394, 26625 cadets and 34769 seniors are a major force multiplier for many local, state and federal agencies.

The event begins with a cadet and senior socials Friday evening with the cadets having a theme of a Hawaiian Luau with an award to the best Luau costume. The senior social allows members to cultivate new friendships and to renew old CAP friendships. Saturday will begin with a General Assembly during which the Wing Commander Colonel Cecil Scarbrough will present an overview of the past year’s missions, successes and major milestones and events. Wing Staff members will also have presentations on the past, current and future missions as the La. Wing continues to serve our nations communities.

Highlights of 2011 were in support of the Mississippi River Flooding Crisis the La. Wing flew over 180 sorties performing Aerial Search & Rescue (SAR) and Aerial Photography for the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), FEMA, the Louisiana National Guard, and other State and Federal agencies. The La. Wing delivered over 7500 images of the flood-affected areas to assist our State and our communities with emergency preparations and disaster relief efforts. The Louisiana Wing received the Southwest Region Disaster Relief Award for 2011. This award recognizes Louisiana Wing "For Excellence in Disaster Relief". The CAP National Commander awarded Louisiana Wing with a National Commander's Unit Citation on August 18th of 2011. This award recognizes Louisiana Wing and all of its members for "exceptionally outstanding performance and achievement in the execution of the Civil Air Patrol's missions for America".

Following the General Assembly and lunch there will be multiple seminars, workshops and professional development opportunities for all that help to enhance our abilities to continue to perform our missions safely and precisely. The CAP has three primary missions: Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs and Emergency Services. Saturday evening will have a Senior Receptions with three exceptional guests: Major Terry Raymond, National Headquarters, CAP, Colonel Frank A. Buethe, Commander, Southwest Region and Lieutenant Colonel Nathan J. Healy, Commander, CAP-USAF Southwest Liaison Region.

Following the guest speakers will be the Awards Ceremony in which the Wing Commander, Colonel Cecil Scarbrough will recognize and award the squadrons and individuals that have been true examples of the CAP Core Value of Excellence In All We Do! The night’s festivities end with a great meal and more time for the members to relax and enjoy the company of the wings diverse group of exceptional volunteers that have served our communities for over seventy years. Louisiana’s Wing has played a major role in all of the seventy years with sub-chasers based in Grand Isle among many other notable accomplishments.CAP Cadet Programs transforms our nation’s youth, age 12-18 into responsible leaders of tomorrow! Ending the weekends conference on Sunday will be a Commanders Call for our Squadron Commanders (15) with the Wing Commander followed by a Wing Staff meeting ending at lunchtime.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 54 lives in fiscal year 2011. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to nearly 27,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 70 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.